The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008). Directed by David Fincher.
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is an epic film that tells the story of a man that ages backwards. Benjamin is born into the body of an 80-yearl-old man that grows up to become a young man, a boy, then a baby before he dies. Along the way he makes friends, finds love and experiences “the joys of life and the sadness of death”.
Director David Fincher (Fight Club, Se7en) spent years trying to figure how to make this film work. The computer animation and the special effects industry have matured to the point that this incredibly ambitious tale can work as a film. Previously it was a short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
Love him or hate him, Brad Pitt does an exceptional job at playing the lead character of Benjamin Button. The makeup and CGI (computer generated images) that transform him into a little old man or a teenager are miraculous.
Cate Blanchett is always perfect but it was Tilda Swinton that surprised me in her role as a love interest to Pitt’s character. I thought she had one of the best performances in the film.
David Fincher does a first rate job of creating an incredibly rich and detailed experience that is pure movie magic. A DVD release with a director’s commentary is sure to be fascinating.
I wondered if the film really needed to be almost 3 hours (166 minutes). It does. It never drags and the long setup is worth the pay off in the second half.
The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button needs time to soak in. You’ll find yourself reflecting on your own life, assessing the different stages you’ve experienced so far — the birth of your children, parenting, the loss of your mother or father, your relationships, friends and maybe more.
It’s hard for me to believe that on this day, 8 years ago, my mother passed away. Time can pass by so quickly. In a weird sort of way this film is a timely reminder but also a distraction that makes me enjoy it even more.
½
Films are rated from 1 to 4 stars.
Posted in Movie Reviews at 11:03 PM
